Vitaliy Goncharuk's Perspective on Drones and Missiles
An article on the War on the Rocks website presents the views of Vitaliy Goncharuk, who argues that NATO is making a strategic mistake by investing in propeller-driven drones, as Russia transitions to faster turbojet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles. Goncharuk, who chaired Ukraine's Artificial Intelligence Committee from 2019 to 2023 and leads A19Lab—a company focused on developing autonomous systems for drones and robots—advocates for prioritizing the production of inexpensive autonomous interceptor missiles over costly Western munitions. This debate is particularly relevant as drone warfare rapidly evolves on the Ukrainian battlefield.
Advantages of Turbojet Drones
According to Goncharuk, upgraded Shahed drones equipped with turbojet engines offer a significant edge over their propeller-driven counterparts. For instance, the modernized Shaheds reach speeds of approximately 460 miles per hour and can fly at altitudes up to 29,000 feet. In contrast, propeller-based Shaheds travel at just 90 miles per hour at an altitude of 6,500 feet. Ukrainian interceptor drones, which have a maximum speed of around 280 miles per hour, are unable to keep pace with these new Russian unmanned systems.
Goncharuk also highlights that Iran has developed the 358 missile, priced at roughly $90,000 per unit, capable of striking drones like the Shahed, MQ-9 Reaper, Wing Loong II, and AH-64 Apache. He proposes creating a new class of cheap autonomous interceptor missiles, costing only thousands or tens of thousands of dollars each, compared to Western precision-guided munitions that can run up to half a million dollars per unit.
In Goncharuk's view, Western nations struggle to move in the right direction due to five structural barriers:
- Institutional inertia favors visible platforms.
- A production complexity gap exists between drones and missiles supplied by major defense contractors.
- Scaling missile sensors and visual navigation under GPS-denied conditions presents challenges.
- International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) impose restrictions on propulsion startups.
- There is a shortage of propulsion engineers and guidance system specialists.
Goncharuk believes that
“the cheap counter-drone defense that Ukraine and its allies built in 2022-2023 is becoming obsolete in real time.”He emphasizes that
“catching up to a turbojet drone from behind is no longer possible.”Vitaliy Goncharuk notes that 'a propeller drone or ground robot carrying two to ten cheap interceptor missiles with autonomous launch upon target detection becomes a mother platform and logistical tool, not a weapon in itself.' He stresses the critical importance of speed in modern conditions, stating that 'the drone is a truck. The missile works in the last seconds.'
Against the backdrop of an escalating threat from Russia, which daily launches an increasing number of turbojet Shaheds, Goncharuk calls for urgent action. China is also actively supplying critical components for Shahed turbojet engines and investing in its own low-cost counter-drone missile platforms, such as the Yitian and FK-3000. Consequently, Goncharuk underscores that 'the window for a response is still open, but it depends on shifting political demand and procurement priorities.'
The views expressed by Goncharuk reflect a critical moment in military affairs, where drone speed and technological progress play a pivotal role in modern warfare. Emphasizing cheap autonomous missiles could be a vital step for Ukraine and its allies in countering new threats emerging from the evolution of Russian drones. Given the growing danger, strategic decisions in defense policy carry particular weight and could significantly influence the conflict's outcome.
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